You might be asking yourself “Who is this chick and why is she teaching all this stuff?” I’m just one of those health and wellness nerds who can’t stop myself from taking every class that sounds interesting. I started with Ashtanga Yoga at Andrew Eppler’s studio in Norman, Oklahoma in the early 2000’s. I also took American Tribal Belly Dance at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for several years with Lonnie Agnew and Susan Brassfield Cogan. Then I moved to Boulder, Colorado and things got a little out of control…
I was hired as the membership coordinator and building manager at The Integral Center, a community center for “transformational practices”. It was a building full of health and wellness nerds teaching classes and I took ALL OF THEM!
I religiously attended Erin Keeley’s Yoga classes. I LOVED Hollis Jones’ Foundation Training, Functional Range Conditioning, and Continuum classes. I dropped in on the 6am Zen Meditation with the Dragon Heart Sangha as often as I could drag myself out of bed. I got some Neuro-Sculpting from Ariel Radack-Krassner. Mary Jo Miller showed me Spine Spiraling. I could keep naming all of the amazing teachers I learned from there, but you probably don’t care.
The practice I did the most at the Integral Center was Authentic Relating. The weekend courses were with the best trainers in the business. Then we had 2 or 3 hour long practice sessions several times a week. In all I estimate I’ve done over one thousand hours of communication practices. I wish that meant I am a perfect communicator, but unfortunately, like “enlightenment”, it just doesn’t work that way.
The truth is, you have to keep practicing all of these things if you want to get the benefit from them. If you stop exercising, your muscles will atrophy. If you stop meditating, your mind will wander. If you stop authentic relating, your empathy will suffer. I had to find a way to keep my practices going, even though I don’t have the Integral Center any more.
So, I put together the Ecstatic Embodiment practice for myself to stay sharp. The thing is, you can’t do Authentic Relating by yourself. I also like to dance and that’s no fun alone. So, I decided to teach. I’m really not in it for the money. Mostly, I want to use these classes to bribe people to help out in my community gardens and other community organizing projects. If you don’t have the funds, please reach out to me and I’ll set you up with some work-trade.
I’m not an expert in any of these practices. I’m only teaching a few of the most basic moves. However, I think these are also the most beneficial moves, so I’m really packing in as much value as I can. I recommend that students find those expert teachers to learn more from if they find any of the practices helpful. I will also link to teachers and resources in my blog posts. Don’t sue me.
I’m just trying my best to help people have fun. Please come have fun with me!
